Self Evaluation of Cardiology Residents on the Clinical Competencies Defined in the Core Curriculum

Aim: The clinical and procedural competencies that a cardiology resident should gain during the residency programme are defined as Cardiology Core Curriculum (CCC). Clinical competencies defined in the CCC are leveled as diagnosis (D), diagnosis and therapy (DT), diagnosis and therapy in a team (DTT); whereas emergency (E) and prevention (Pre) levels are added on these. Residents are expected to gain all these clinical competencies in the first half of their residency program. The aims of this study were to assess the self-evaluation of cardiology residents from different hospitals in Turkey on the level of achievement of the clinical competencies described in CCC and further investigate the factors that could affect the results. Methods: A survey was conducted to obtain self-evaluation of cardiology residents on levels of clinical competency defined in CCC. Residents on the second and third years of training were grouped as first half and fourth and fifth year as the second half. The self-evaluation levels of residents were compared according to their educational levels (first vs second half) and the type of educational centers (university vs training and research hospital). Results: Eighty-four residents from 36 different centers in Turkey were included in the survey; 59% of the residents were in the first half and 41% in the second half of their education. Fifty-five residents were getting cardiology training in university hospitals (53 government and 2 foundation university) and 29 in training and research hospitals. Among the clinical competencies grouped as DT-E-Pre the residents reported highest competence in management of hypertension (88%) followed by acute heart failure (80%). As expected, residents in the second half of their training were more competent in all of clinical competencies listed in the CCC. This difference was significant at the DT level for sudden cardiac death, vascular disease, adult congenital heart disease, valvular diseases, cor pulmonale, chronic ischemic heart disease and pericardial disease and at Pre level for sudden cardiac death (p<0.05). No difference was observed between the education centers at DT and E levels, however residents in the university hospitals had stated higher competence at Pre level in all of the clinical competencies listed in the CCC compared to residents training in training and research hospitals and the difference was significant in more than half of competencies (p<0.05). Conclusions: The self-evaluation level of cardiology residents on the competencies defined in the CCC are lower than expected. There is a striking difference at Pre level between university and training and research hospitals. The results of this survey are expected to contribute to CCC update and residence programme development studies.